Sometimes, braces come loose. If this happens to you and you’re having pain as a result, we want to see you right away. Otherwise, we schedule emergency repair visits between 9:00am and 2:00pm.
If you call outside of our office hours, our voicemail will direct you to the “on call” doctor. If you are having pain, one of the doctors will arrange to see you during off hours. We do not want you to be in pain, so please do not hesitate to call! However, if you simply want to cancel an appointment or have something to tell us, please leave a message, and we will get back to you upon our return to the office.
Call these numbers for emergency repairs:
- South Berkeley office (Telegraph Ave.): (510) 849-2434
- North Berkeley office (Ensenada Ave.): (510) 528-1511
- Orinda office: (925) 253-4900
Tips for dealing with broken braces and injuries:
- It is not an orthodontic emergency if a bracket comes loose from the tooth or a separator falls out. However, we really need to know this to perhaps modify your next appointment, so please call us the next business day. A broken brace should be fixed in a timely manner. Braces are fixed during the quieter times in the office (9am – 2pm). If you really need an in-demand after-school time slot for your appointment, you will have to wait a bit longer to be seen. The longer the brace stays off, the longer the treatment progress will be delayed.
- If you are out of town and are being poked from a broken or long wire, try clipping the end of the wire with fingernail clippers. If you are unable to clip the end of the wire, try placing wax over it. We have provided wax in your start-up kit, but if you have misplaced it or don’t have it with you, contact a local pharmacy to purchase one. Some wire ends can be tucked out of the way with the end of a spoon or other smooth object. Make sure to call the office the next business day if you are unsuccessful in resolving the problem.
- If you are out of town and have a loose band or bracket, please find a local orthodontist or dentist and ask him/her to make you comfortable. Please give them our name in case they need to contact us. Always keep any band, bracket, wire, or any other orthodontic device that comes loose and is removed from your mouth.
- If you have a traumatic injury resulting in lacerations to the lips or gums or if teeth are displaced, please contact our office immediately. If you have broken any part of the tooth, you will need to contact your family dentist. If you suspect that your jaw has been injured or notice that your teeth have been moved by the accident, you may also need to be seen by an oral surgeon.